Lifter.



No 765,674. I v PATBNTED JULY 26, 1904. P. NORMANDIN.

LIFTER. APPLICATION. FILED MAR. 21. I904.

110 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

LEVI P. NORMANDIN, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTI-IS TO WILLIAM F. COWHAM, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,674, dated July 26, 1904-.

Application filed March 21, 1904:.

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI P. NORMANDIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the ,county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to lifters more particularly designed for employment in the handling of building-blocks; and the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lifter. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one portion of the lifter, showing it in engagement with the buildingblock. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detached perspective views of some of the parts of the lifter.

A is an inverted-T-shaped member, which at its upper end is apertured to engage with the rod or stem B. to which it is adjustably clamped by a set-screw or other securing device O. A is another member similar in construction to the member A and similarly secured to the rod or stem B. Thesestems B and B are slidingly connected to each other, preferably by forming them' of tubes which are in telescopic engagement.

Each of the members A and A is provided with a plurality of inwardly-projecting fingers D, adj ustably secured thereto. As shown, these members D are secured to the cross-bar of the member A by bolts E, which are adapted to engage a series of apertures F, formed in the bar. Thus by engaging the bolts E in different apertures the fingers D may be separated from each other a greater or lesser distance, according to the width of the block to'be handled. The cross-bars of the members A and A are also preferably provided with inwardly-projecting flanges or ledges a, upon which the inner ends of the fingers D rest and which serve to remove shearing stress from the bolts.

Each of the fingers D is preferably provided at its outer end with a hook or upwardly-projecting lug I), which is adapted to Serial No. 199,242. (No model.)

engage with the flange 0r ledge 0 on the lower face of the bottom plate Gr, which supports the block. The fingers D are provided with shoulders (Z, adapted to contact with the end of the bottom plate Gr, so as to separate the latter from the members A and A.

With the device as thus far described when it is desired to lift the block two workmen may grasp the opposite ends of the stems B and B and then engage the fingers D on the members A and A with the bottom plate Gr, supporting the block, by sliding the stems B and B upon each. other. When the fingers D are engaged with the bottom plate,the block may be lifted and removed to the proper position, after which the lifter is disengaged by sliding the stems B and B so as to separate the members A and A.

In the lifting of blocks which are not perfectly symmetrical in form-as, for example, angle-blocks the center of gravity may not be located exactly in the plane of the liftingstems B and B, and, furthermore, with angle-blocks the center of gravity at one end is in a different plane from that at the other end. As a consequence the weight of the block would tend to exert a torsional strain on the stems B and B, which if free to rotate in relation to each other will permit of the straining of the bottom plate supporting the block. The blocks being usually in a soft condition when removed might thus be distorted or fractured. To avoid this difliculty, I have provided means for locking the stems B and B from relative rotation when the fingers on the members A and A are in engagement with the lock. As shown, the means employed consists of a member H, adjustably secured on the stem B by suitable means, such as a set-screw c, said member having the oppositely-projecting arms f,preferably slightly beveled in cross-section. The other stem has secured thereto the member I, which is also adjustably fastened by a set-screw g and is provided on opposite sides with the prongs lb. These prongs are preferably tapered and are adapted to mount upon the arms f of the member H when the stems B and B are moved toward each other. When the members H and I are thus engaged, they Will readily lock the stems B and B from relative rotation, which will hold the members A and A in the same vertical longitudinal plane and prevent them from swinging to distort the block.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A lifter comprising a longitudinally-extensible rod forming handles at its opposite ends, hangers depending from the separable portions of said rod and supporting-bearings projecting laterally from the inner faces of said hangers, said bearings on one of said hangers being arranged upon opposite sides of the plane of the rod.

2. A lifter comprising a longitudinally-extensible rod forming handles at its opposite ends, hangers depending from the separable portions of said rod and having inwardly-projecting supporting-bearings, one of said hangers being of T shape and having its laterallysupporting bearings projecting from opposite arms of the T.

3. A lifter comprising a longitudinally-extensible rod forming handles at its opposite ends, hangers depending from separable portions of said rod, inwardly-projecting supporting-bearings on said hangers upon opposite sides of the plane of said rod and adjustable toward or from said plane of the rod.

4. A lifter comprising a rod formed in telescopic sections having handles at their opposite ends, hangers depending from said sections and inwardly-projecting fingers on said hangers.

5. A lifter comprising a rod formed in telescopic sections having handles at their opposite ends, hangers depending from said sections and having inwardly-extending supporting-bearings and cooperative members secured to the sections of said rod and adjustable thereon in relation to each other, said members being adapted when in engagement to prevent the relative rotation of said sections.

6. In a lifter an inverted-T-shaped hanger and supporting-fingers adjustably secured to the opposite]y-projecting arms thereof.

7. In a lifter a hanger provided with a laterally-projecting finger D, having the hook I) at its free end and the shoulder (Z for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LEVI P. N ORMANDIN.

WVitnesses:

JAs. P. BARRY, H. C. SMITH. 

